A new crystal form of large ribosomal subunits from Halobacterium marismortui

Abstract

A new form of thr~-dimensioM1 crystals of the 50 S ribosomal subunits from Haiobacterium m~~mortui has been obtained at 19"C, using ~iyethyle~e glycol in the presence of 1.2-1.7 M KC1 in the crystall~tion mixture. The crystals diffract X-rays to 13 A and are stable in the synehrotron radiation beam for 4-8 h. Being aggregates of thin plates, the dimensions of only two unit cell edges, 147 x 181 A, with an angle of 95", could so far be determined by both X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. Attempts to produce thicker crystals by sophisticated seeding are in progress. Ribosomes (Halobacteria) CrystallizationSynchrotron radiation